Marduk Agricultural Brewery: Artisan Farm-to-Bottle Sardinian Beers

Posted by Rowena Dumlao Rowena Dumlao - Giardina 11/12/2024

Marduk Agricultural Brewery: Artisan Farm-to-Bottle Sardinian Beers

Marduk Agricultural Brewery began as a bold vision in 2007, led by friends Mauro Loddo and Giuseppe Murru, who believed beer should be a ritual, rooted in authenticity and local heritage. Unsatisfied with commercial options, they embarked on a journey to create a distinctly Sardinian beer that celebrated the island’s culture and land. What began in a cellar with makeshift equipment has grown into a full agricultural brewery where each element, from cultivating their own barley to brewing, is crafted to embody Sardinia’s rich natural bounty and spirit. For Marduk, brewing is not just production; it’s a philosophy of “looking beyond.”

Mauro Loddo and Giuseppe Murru (photo from FB page)

The Origins of a Dream

In 2007, two passionate homebrewers from Sardinia, Mauro Loddo and Giuseppe Murru, transformed their love for beer into a visionary business venture. Giuseppe, who honed his skills in his father’s cured meat business, and Mauro, active in catering across bars, hotels, and pubs, found themselves captivated by the idea of creating something greater than a hobby. Inspired by their Sardinian roots, they set out to turn what had been a purely passionate pursuit into a full-fledged business.

Driven to create a brewery with deep agricultural roots, they chose an unconventional location: the former premises of Giuseppe’s family’s cured meat factory in Irgoli. Here, they built Marduk Brewery from scratch, welding and assembling their own brewing system—a two-vat setup with a 350-liter capacity, producing around 800 liters of beer per week. Without bank support, they pressed on, expanding their capacity fourfold through sheer determination. The early days weren’t easy, some initial batches fell short. However, intensive study, especially with The Craft Maltster's Handbook by Dave Thomas, which became their guiding text, helped them refine techniques and develop recipes until, in July 2013, Marduk Brewery released its first official brew.

From the outset, Giuseppe and Mauro envisioned Marduk as more than just a brewery. It was a tribute to Sardinia, focused on local ingredients and sustainable practices. This vision of an agricultural soul shaped every aspect of their work, infusing each beer with a distinct sense of place and paying homage to the Sardinian landscape that inspired them. Through dedication, innovation, and a commitment to quality, Marduk Brewery entered the craft beer market with a product that authentically embodies Sardinia’s regional identity.

From Brewery to Farm: Building a True Agricultural Brewery

Giuseppe, a trained food technologist, and Mauro, an experienced homebrewer, shared a vision that went beyond beer. Marduk Brewery would be an agricultural brewery, rooted in the Sardinian landscape, with a production process that would span from growing raw materials to crafting their own unique flavors. Determined to control every part of the brewing process, they established a closed-loop production system, including a malting house, a first for Sardinia, allowing them to transform locally grown barley into malt for their beers.

Their dedication to a genuine Sardinian identity extended to the brewery grounds, where they planted hop fields to provide the distinctive aromas and bitterness for Marduk’s brews. The hops and barley are cultivated without chemical agents, ensuring a product that stays true to its natural roots. Even byproducts from brewing, the spent grains and residual barley, are used to feed livestock, closing the loop on their sustainable approach. They also grow wheat, which is milled into flour for bread and pasta served at their restaurant in Orosei, offering patrons a taste of Sardinia’s traditional flavors.

The Circular Economy at Marduk Brewery

Marduk Brewery operates a true agricultural supply chain, creating a sustainable cycle that begins in the fields and culminates in each glass of beer. The process starts with careful planning and soil preparation, cultivating barley in autumn to be malted nine months later. Meanwhile, hops are grown and harvested midsummer, providing the essential aromas and bitterness unique to Marduk's beers. In autumn, the barley transforms into malt, and the dried hops prepare for the first “Harvest” beer of the season, marking the start of a new production cycle. Every aspect of this process remains under the brewery’s control, ensuring a high level of quality from seed to sip.

Marduk’s dedication to self-sufficiency extends to using 95% of raw materials produced on-site. Barley and hops are grown, harvested, and processed at the brewery’s dedicated facilities, including a malthouse where barley undergoes a slow malting process to enhance flavor. The water used in brewing is carefully chosen and treated to influence the final taste, while endemic ingredients like the local citrus fruit pompìa and ancient Sardinian cereals add distinct, local character to select brews. This comprehensive control over ingredients allows Marduk to produce beers that are both authentically Sardinian and of the highest quality.

In line with its sustainable vision, Marduk also manages livestock and farming by-products with an eye toward minimizing waste. Barley and spent grains from beer production feed Black Angus cattle raised on-site, while sheep graze in the hop fields, naturally controlling weeds without herbicides. This circular approach enables the brewery to maintain an eco-friendly cycle that respects Sardinia’s land and resources, showcasing Marduk’s commitment to a balanced and innovative brewing philosophy.

Giuseppe Murru

Their Beers: The Marduk Warriors

Marduk Brewery’s bottled beer line, Marduk Warriors, captures the essence and heritage of Sardinia in every carefully crafted brew. This collection of six distinct beers, each embodying a unique "warrior" with its own story and character, spans from light, low-fermentation styles to rich, malty dark brews and bold, hoppy ambers.

Sardinian Pilsner: A pale, low-fermentation beer with a delicate floral aroma and a mild, refreshing bitterness.
Sardinian Sexy Pompìa: Light amber and low-fermentation, featuring a bright, aromatic bouquet with citrus notes from Sardinia’s unique pompìa fruit.
Sardinian Pale Ale: A high-fermentation amber beer with caramel malts and Cascade hops, providing a balanced mix of citrus and fruity aromas.
Sardinian IPA: Dark amber, high-fermentation with generous dry hopping, delivering an intense, layered hop profile with bold, wild flavors.
Sardinian Altbier: A bright red, high-fermentation beer with a rich malty body, complemented by hints of dried fruit and chocolate.
Sardinian Black IPA: A dark, high-fermentation beer blending roasted malts with coffee and licorice notes, balanced by robust hops for a strong, complex profile.